Protector device, more particularly for use with knitting needles



April 18, 1950 F= K. REEVES PROTECTOR DEVICE, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR USE WITH KNITTING NEEDLES Filed Nov. 1, 1947 AWE/Wm, FMNK Mum 5r P5475? Patented Apr. 1, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROTECTOR DEVICE, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR USE WITH KNITTING NEEDLES Application November 1, 1947, Serial No. 783,466 In Great Britain September 7, 1945 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires September 7, 1965 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a protector device more particularly for use with knitting needles, and it has for an object to provide a device for preventing knitting needles when not in use from accidentally sticking into or otherwise damaging other articles, such as the container in which the needles and knitting may be kept.

According to the invention there is provided a protector device more particularly for use with knitting needles, consisting of a length of resilient material, preferably rubber, having a conical cavity formed integrally in each end portion thereof, coaxial therewith.

The invention is illustrated by Way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a general side view of the preferred form of the device;

Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the device shown in Figure 1, and indicating the pointed ends of a pair of knitting needles in association therewith; and

Figure 3 is an end View, corresponding with Figure 2.

The preferred form of the device shown in the drawings consists of a moulded piece of soft rubber about 7 inches long and of circular cross section generally indicated at It, the diameter of which varies along the length thereof. At its ends II and I2 the device is about /2 an inch in outside diameter decreasing to about 1 of an inch at positions I3 and I4 about 1%, inches from the said ends. The middle portion I5 of the device between said positions I3 and I4, i. e. a length of about 3% inches, has a uniform diameter of about 1 5 of an inch.

As shown in Figure 2 the end portions generally indicated at I6 and II of the device are hollow, thus forming conical cavities I8 and I9, which extend longitudinally into the device for about 1%, inches, each cavity tapering gradually inwards to a point 20 (2|) and the cavity Walls 22, 23 being about of an inch in thickness. The middle portion I5 of the device, connecting the hollow end portions I6, I'I consists of solid rubber forming a flexible connection between the said end portions.

When not in use knitting needles are often passed through the ball of wool, or other material, with which they are used and the material and needles placed in a bag or elsewhere. This practice results in Wear and tear on the bag or other article with which the points of the needles make contact. When a device according to the present invention is used one end portion I6 of the device is placed over the pointed end of one needle 24, indicated by chain lines in Figure 2, and the other end portion ll of the device is placed over the pointed end of the other needle 25, indicated by chain lines in Figure 2, the needles first being in- 2 serted, if desired, through the wool. The device thus prevents the needles from sticking into or otherwise damaging articles with which they make contact and thus serves to protect the said articles.

It is found that the cavities It, IS in the device, when of the size given above can accommodate the ends of standard knitting needles, and the length of the intermediate portion I5 of the device given above is sufficient to enable the device to be used with needles disposed at any usual angle to one another.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular construction described above. For example, the device may be made of resilient material other than rubber, for example soft leather or felt and the dimensions of the device may be varied if desired. Again, the device can be made of the desired shape and size from a helical coil of steel wire covered with a rubber or other sheath. Each end I I (I2) of the device forming the rim of the mouth of each cavity I8 (I a) may be made of slightly increased thickness as shown to give increased strength and a more finished appearance. The device may be made in various colours. For knitting needles which are pointed at both ends, two protector devices according to the invention may be used with each pair of needles.

The device can, or course, be used with pointed articles other than knitting needles, for example with pencils when carried in the pocket.

If desired the device may be formed with its end portions substantially parallel to one another or at an angle, say to one another, instead of being formed with its end and middle portions in a straight line as described above.

What I claim is:

1. A protector device more particularly for use with knitting needles, consisting of a length of resilient material having a conical cavity formed integrally in each end portion thereof, coaxial therewith.

2. A protector device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is made of rubber.

3. A protector device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the middle portion of the device consists of solid rubber forming a flexible connection between the end portions.

4. A protector device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is made of soft leather.

5. A protector device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rim of the mouth of each cavity is of slightly increased thickness.

6. A protector device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is made of felt.

FRANK KENNETH REEVES.

No references cited. 

